The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
